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Homely Smart Controller

Toodles · 2024-10-27T12:14:02Z

Being somewhat of a nerd when it comes to renewable energy, I was very keen to ensure that our newly installed heat pump not only kept us warm but also ran as efficiently and effortlessly as possible. For these reasons, when we had our Daikin EDLA08 8kW monobloc air source heat pump installed, I was eager to have a smart controller. I believed it would further enhance the efficiency of the heat pump, without the fuss or faff. At the time of installation, the Homely team informed me they were working on the integration for my pump, but that it would take a few months before a suitable controller became available. In November 2023, our installer arrived with a package consisting of the Homely controller, a ‘node’ (a small rectangular case containing a temperature probe, battery, and other sensing electronics) that communicates with the controller via Zigbee, various connectors, two 13-amp plug-type PSUs for powering the system, a terminating resistor for the network connection, and a D.Comm unit for communicating between Homely and Daikin. The installation was straightforward for the installer, involving two connections (P1 and P2) into the back of the Daikin MMI controller panel and some wiring into the D.Comm unit. The terminating resistor was fitted, and configuring the myriad of dip switches on the D.Comm completed the setup. Homely required the Daikin MMI controls to be reset to a default state before powering up Homely and allowing it to ‘do its thing.’ During this time, the unit communicates with the heat pump and sets a range of parameters as a starting point. This setup takes about 20 minutes, after which Homely begins monitoring the system and communicating with the node, which is recommended to be placed in a living or relaxing area. The Homely smart controller then tweaks the heat pump system’s parameters to optimise performance and continues to ‘learn’ the system for a week or more. It improves factors like flow and return temperatures, the time it takes for the room to warm or cool, and it even accounts for weather forecasts, air temperature changes, and solar gain. Of course, there’s an app (available for iOS and Android via WiFi and internet), allowing users to set up their heating and hot water schedules for individual days. The app also accommodates Time of Use (TOU) tariffs, letting Homely calculate the best times to run the pump to take advantage of lower electricity rates. You can configure preferences for temperature stability, allowing Homely to adjust the system to maximise efficiency and minimise overall energy bills. It’s like micro-managing your heat pump’s operation without having to do so manually. My Homely smart controller has been in use for a year now and has worked extremely well. There were a few minor teething problems in the early days (I believe mine was the first Daikin pump of this type with a secondary pump fitted with a Homely controller), but the Homely Technical Support team were friendly, helpful, and quick to resolve all the issues I raised. The performance of the heat pump has been excellent, providing all the warmth we need, with Homely at the helm, ensuring this comfort is delivered economically. Our registered installer has access to EverGreen Energy’s Connect app, which allows them to monitor the system’s performance parameters. Unfortunately, this app isn’t available to end users unless they are registered installers with EverGreen Energy, who produce the Homely Smart Controller. I’m hopeful this will change, allowing more savvy users to access and monitor their system’s performance. Overall, I’m confident leaving Homely to do its job, but I can’t help checking the app’s controls occasionally—just like I enjoy keeping an eye on my solar PV production!

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Toodles

(@toodles)

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Joined: 3 years ago

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Topic starter 28/10/2024 9:52 pm

@editor And here’s another one then Mars! Might Homely consider making the Dashboard available as part of the app please? The information it provides is very helpful and is enabling users to make intelligent decisions about their heating regimes and their DHW implementation and planning (as starkers has mentioned). On top of all the useful functions, it provides good material for improving bragging rights and will enable users of Homely smart controls to bore all their friends with the advantages!😉. Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Starkers

(@starkers)

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28/10/2024 10:10 pm

Posted by: @toodles

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@editor And here’s another one then Mars! Might Homely consider making the Dashboard available as part of the app please? The information it provides is very helpful and is enabling users to make intelligent decisions about their heating regimes and their DHW implementation and planning (as starkers has mentioned). On top of all the useful functions, it provides good material for improving bragging rights and will enable users of Homely smart controls to bore all their friends with the advantages!😉. Regards, Toodles.

Wholeheartedly agree! While I get the point that Homely might not want to expose customers to too much information and their secret sauce takes care of the weather compensation, it still leaves a good few open questions for people who want to further optimise. Maybe hide it under an 'advanced info' tab or something to keep up the 'set and forget' mindset for the majority of users.

This post was modified 11 months ago by Majordennisbloodnok

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Frits

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06/11/2024 7:09 pm

Hello Toodles,
I am from the Netherlands and have been reading your messages about the Homely for some time. This is because I have a Midea heat pump. Is it also possible for me to buy a Homely? I hope you can help me. Greetings Frits

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Majordennisbloodnok

(@majordennisbloodnok)

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06/11/2024 9:32 pm

Please bear in mind, @frits, that @toodles doesn’t work for Homely; he’s just built up a good relationship with them.

Welcome to the forum, btw.

105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and SPH5000 inverter
1 x Myenergi Zappi
1 x VW ID3
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs

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Mars

(@editor)

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06/11/2024 11:23 pm

Welcome to the forums @frits. Yes, Homely supports Midea, but I don’t know if they sell to The Netherlands. I’ll find out.

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Frits

(@frits)

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07/11/2024 7:08 am

@majordennisbloodnok Thank you. I already had that idea.

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Frits

(@frits)

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07/11/2024 7:12 am

@editor If you would like to do that for me, I would be very happy.

I have already tried to contact Homely by email, but they have not yet responded.

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Mars

(@editor)

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07/11/2024 9:14 am

@frits, I spoke with Homely, and it’s not available in the Netherlands just yet. If you’re trying to reach them, the best email to use is team@homelyenergy.com – that’s the address they’ve recommended for contact.

Pre-order: The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast

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Frits

(@frits)

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07/11/2024 12:26 pm

Thanks for the effort. I will send an email to them and wait for their response. Greetings

This post was modified 10 months ago by Majordennisbloodnok

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Frits

(@frits)

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12/11/2024 3:11 pm

Hello, Unfortunately, they haven't answered my email yet. I hope they continue to do this. You say that the Homely is not yet available in the Netherlands, that is correct, but they could still send 1 set. greetings

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Frits

(@frits)

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13/11/2024 8:12 am

Hello, Unfortunately, they haven’t answered my email yet. I hope they continue to do this. You say that the Homely is not yet available in the Netherlands, that is correct, but they could still send 1 set. greetings

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Stevensrp

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08/01/2025 6:43 pm

I have/had a Homely hub installed with my ASHP worse thing I've ever encountered TBH only supports a single zone (and they may/may not be looking at 2 zones sometime in the future) unless of course you want someone else to control your heating/hot water!
having listened in to a conversation between my installer and Homely it was obvious that the "customer" (me) was low priority now looking for a control system that actually does what I want.
Honest opinion not worth it right now.

This post was modified 8 months ago by Mars

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